In the midst of the summer sunshine and backyard BBQs, Pride Foundation set out to gather feedback from our donors about what inspires them and what their experiences have been as part of Pride Foundation’s family. Knowing how much the movement for equality has changed in recent years, it was particularly important to ask for
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend a White House Roundtable discussion on issues affecting Two Spirit people that took place at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Seattle. It was such an honor to be invited to participate as a Two Spirit person representing Pride Foundation. Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to
It should go without saying that every student should feel safe at school. Yet, for many, they face harassment, bullying, and intimidation. This is especially true for LGBTQ students. According to GLSEN’s 2011 National School Climate Survey, “Oregon schools were not safe for most lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) secondary school students.” Eighty percent
The political landscape in Montana is complex and can be confusing. One thing we know for sure is that it’s been very difficult to pass pro-equality policies into state law in Montana. For the past two decades, a number of organizations and lobbyists have worked tirelessly to pass a bill that would include sexual orientation
Proponents of a non-discrimination ordinance in Idaho Falls are as determined as ever to get their city leaders to eventually approve and adopt an ordinance that protects LGBTQ residents in all public sectors, propelled by the overwhelming support of the community’s first gay pride festival in September. The eastern Idaho town, a largely conservative community
In September, Pride Foundation joined with local Juneau LGBTQ groups to convene a town hall. This was the third in a series of town halls held across Alaska to engage the community in a discussion about the future of the statewide LGBTQ movement. Juneau is a geographically isolated capital city with a population of 32,000.
Yesterday, on September 9th, Pride Foundation’s newest staff member, Kim Leighton—along with scores of other community members—attended a counter-protest of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) in Bozeman, Montana. The WBC picketed Montana State University (MSU) from 2:30 PM to 3:00 and then picketed Bozeman High School from 3:15 to 3:45 PM. The Westboro Baptist Church
On August 18th, over two hundred community members in Eugene, Oregon were in attendance for the film screening of Gen Silent—one of three events in a series specifically focused on issues facing LGBTQ seniors. Increasingly, as the social climate of tolerance has slowly shifted, more LGBT people have come out and found acceptance. But that
Like LGBTQ people and allies across the nation and world, Juneau LGBTQ advocates Maureen Longworth and Lin Davis have had a lot to celebrate this year. Most recently and particularly important to them, United States Senator Lisa Murkowski, a sitting Alaskan Republican official, publicly supported marriage equality. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Section 3 of
After meeting Jackie Sandmeyer, you know immediately that she’s one of those amazing young women who is going places. At only 23 years old, the Idaho native and 2012-13 Pride Foundation scholar from Boise has had to overcome more obstacles than most people have to in a lifetime. On discovering she was queer, Sandmeyer’s parents